Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings Qualifier 1 Prediction

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings Qualifier 1 Prediction

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings will compete in Qualifier 1 – the first of the playoff matches of VIVO IPL 2018. SRH finished the regular league season at the top of the table, while CSK occupied second place; both teams finished with 9 wins each – net run rate decided their position in the table.

The Chennai Super Kings will believe they have the psychological edge over their opponents heading into this match, for they’ve already defeated the Sunrisers twice this season. Will CSK make it three out of three, or will Sunrisers be able to put the brakes on their losing streak and sail through to the Final?

Kane Williamson, all by himself, has contributed to the extent of 29.6% of Sunrisers’ runs this season; that statistic by itself explains how important he is to his team. Considered a batsman suited better for the longer formats, the SRH captain has been refreshing to watch this IPL. While he continues to employ the traditional methods to score runs, he has also shed his inhibitions and adapted to the demands of the T20 format, playing strokes which don’t come to him naturally.

Shikhar Dhawan has had an outstanding year with the bat – particularly in the white ball formats; the left-hander has scored three half-centuries in his last four innings and looks hungry for more.

Three CSK batsmen find a place in the top ten run-getters this season; Ambati Rayudu occupies fourth place with an aggregate of 586 runs, while MS Dhoni and Shane Watson are ninth and tenth respectivey with aggregates of 446 runs & 438 runs. Add Suresh Raina, who is 9 short of 400 runs for the season, into the mix; the left-hander – an integral part of CSK

SRH will look towards Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan to do the bulk of the damage. Bhuvneshwar, the Purple Cap winner in the last two seasons, has come in for plenty of tap in his last three matches – 1-51, 0-38 and 0-33. SRH will hope he can raise his game and cause some damage with the ball. Rashid Khan has often dismissed the key batsman in the opposition

Deepak Chahar has generally bowled well with the new ball; considering the bulk of SRH’s runs have been scored by their top three, if Chahar is able to knock over a few early on, he will have put CSK in a position of strength. Pitches at the Wankhede Stadium have generally offered good pace and bounce

Head to Head

This season: CSK beat SRH by 4 runs in Hyderabad and by 8 wickets in Pune.

The Chennai Super Kings have made the last-four stage in each of the 9 seasons they’ve competed in. Sunrisers Hyderabad have made the Playoffs in 4 of the 6 seasons they’ve competed in.

The Sunrisers have a 1-4 win-loss record in IPL matches at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai; the corresponding number for CSK is 5-6. Both teams were victorious when they visited the Wankhede Stadium earlier this season; CSK clinched the season opener by 1 wicket, while SRH defended 118 by dismissing the Mumbai Indians for 87.

The Chennai Super Kings batsmen have hit a total of 130 sixes in VIVO IPL 2018 – the most among all teams. Sunrisers Hyderabad sit at the other end of the list; their batsmen have hit the fewest sixes in the competition – 68.

Harbhajan Singh has taken 49 wickets in IPL matches at the Wankhede Stadium. Only one bowler has taken 50 or more IPL wickets at a venue – Lasith Malinga, 58 at the Wankhede Stadium.